LADIES DRESSES FOR DECEMBER. WALKING DRESSES. Round dress of thick white muslin. The Hungarian cloak, made of nacarat, or scarlet silk, trimmed all around with broad black lace or fur. A bonnet of the same colour as the cloak, trimmed with black lace or fur, and ornamented with a flower or feather of the same colour. DANCING OR FULL DRESS. A short robe of fine muslin, with a train or petticoat of the same; the robe made plain over the bosom, with additional fronts, to fly open from the shoulders. The whole bound with scarlet ribbon; the sleeves and the robe, from the shoulders to the bottom, are ornamented with scarlet ribbon. The bosom trimmed round with deep white lace. A hat of white silk, turned up in front, and lined with scarlet; a feather of the same colour fixed in front, to fall over the crown. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. The prevailing colours are scarlet, pink and purple. Black bear muffs and tippets, long before, and in the form of a handkerchief, are general for morning and walking dresses; and white muffs and tippets for full dress. Feathers and flowers of all descriptions are universal; long scarlet ribbons are worn round the bosom, from which miniatures or lockets are suspended. Caps in full dress are more prevalent than last winter. LONDON PAP. [_From “A Girl’s Life Eighty Years Ago,” by Eliza Southgate Bowne._] ALBANY, Aug. 8, 1802. The Patroon and his wife came to see us. She is really beautiful, dressed very plain; cotton cambric morning gown, white sarsnet cloak, hair plain, and black veil thrown carelessly over her head. NEW YORK, June 6, 1803. Caroline and I went shopping yesterday, and ’tis a fact that the little white satin Quaker bonnets, cap-crowns, are the most fashionable that are worn—lined with pink or blue or white; but I’ll not have one, for if any of my old acquaintances should meet me in the street they would laugh,—I would if I were them. I mean to send Sister Boyd a Quaker cap, the first tasty one I see; Caroline’s are too plain, but she has promised to get me a more fashionable pattern. ’Tis the fashion. I see nothing new or pretty,—large sheer muslin shawls put on as Sally Weeks wears hers are much worn, they show the form thro’ and look pretty; silk nabobs, plaided, colored and white, are much worn, very short waists, hair very plain. [Illustration: PL. VIII.—FASHION PLATE FROM ENGLAND, 1799 ] NEW YORK, June 18, 1803.